Suspected I-96 shooter arraigned

In the first break in the case of the two dozen shootings at motorists in four counties in October, Raulie Wayne Casteel faced charges in a Howell District Court Wednesday in one of them.

Casteel, who lived in Wixom after moving back home from Kentucky, was charged in the 53rd District Court in Livingston County in front of Judge Carol Sue Reader.

Casteel was charged with six counts of a combination of felonious assault, carrying with unlawful intent, felony firearms, and discharge of a dangerous weapon from a vehicle.

A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf during his arraignment via video feed.

Casteel, 43, could serve a total of at least seven years in prison if convicted in this particular incident.

The highest fine Casteel faced was on the charge of carrying with unlawful intent — a fine of $2,500.

Casteel’s legal counsel stated that they were retained by Casteel’s wife, Erin, and would be meeting with the suspect shortly after the arraignment. They said bond and pretrial release were at the court’s discretion, but added that Casteel has been married for 11 years, has no criminal history and is a college graduate.

The judge, noting that Casteel poses a great flight risk and is a suspect in ongoing investigations similar to the one he is charged in, set his bond at $2 million, cash or surety.

Reader also set a pretrial exam for 2 p.m., Nov. 14.

The incident in question happened about 3 p.m., Oct. 18 to Jennifer Kupiec, the victim listed in court documents.

Livingston County Prosecutor David L. Morse represented the State of Michigan, while two Ann Arbor-based lawyers — one of whom is Doug Mulkoff — represented Casteel.

Casteel, who does not look very much like the composite sketch given by task force members, heard his charges from the Livingston County Jail during the video arraignment. While the suspect was described as a “clean cut” man, Casteel has longer, black hair.

After the arraignment — about 5 p.m. — all the task force’s top officials held a press conference in one of the court’s jury rooms.

The Livingston County prosecutor said that this arraignment — while only for one of the 24 incidents — was a positive result in the lengthy investigation into the serial shootings.

Trying not to say too much, Morse confirmed that it was an individual who came forward and pointed to Casteel as the possible shooter.

As to the mental health of the suspect, Morse said that at this point, “It’s pretty vague.”

Morse also confirmed media reports a 9mm pistol was used in the shooting. He said Casteel had a Kentucky license for “one of the guns,” implying that there were several taken from his home Monday.

The married father was arrested at a home in Wixom on Monday evening, weeks after a 100-plus member taskforce formed to investigate the shootings that occurred in four counties between Lansing and western Oakland County.

Casteel had been living at his in-laws home at 1515 Kings Crown Court for the past two months with his wife and daughter, according to a neighbor.